Cooperative Ikhf N'Ighir from Ait Bouguemez, Morocco

Hakout Kaltoum

Hakout, one of the founders of the cooperative was born in 1968 in Ixf N'Ighir and has lived there her entire life. She is now divorced and is now improving her literacy skills through classes taught locally. She learned the craft of weaving from her mother, focusing on Hanbel rugs. All of the money that she earns from the cooperative she uses to support her family. She hopes that the products are successful and that the cooperative continues to improve and develop.

Fatima Aghbalo

Fatima was born in 1956 in Ixf N'Ighir and is married and the mother of 4 children. She studied through primary school and learned the craft of weaving at a young age from her mother. She joined the cooperative to earn sustainable income and help her husband financially. She is part of the cooperative to empower herself and the rest of the women of the community. Fatima is hopeful that they will be able to find permanent space so that they can teach the rest of the younger women how to weave.

Naima Ait Atalb

Naima was born in 1992 and is married to the chef of the village. Having attended school through the fifth grade, she dropped out to get married at a young age. She has two children. When she was younger she learned the craft of weaving, and she joined the cooperative to improve her skills in weaving.

Aisha Ait Issa

Aisha was born in 1980 in Ixf N'Ighir and is married with two children. She learned the craft of weaving from the local women, and has never had the opportunity to attend school because her father only permitted the boys to study. Aisha joined the cooperative to support her children so they can succeed in their lives.

Naima Khat

Naima was born in 1999 in Ixf N'Ighir and is not married. Naima attended school through the eighth grade, and learned the skills of weaving from her mother at a young age. She joined the cooperative to improve her skills.

Hara Jadi

Hara was born in Ixf N'Ighir in 1954 and is married to a man from the local area. She is the mother of eight and has never been able to attend school because there was no school nearby to her childhood home. She learned the craft of weaving from her mother at a young age, specializing in rugs. She joined the cooperative to encourage the women to stay together and not leave the village. She hopes that the cooperative continues to develop and improve the living standards of those in the village.

Fatima Yakoub

Fatima was born in Ait Bouli in 1983 and is married. She attended school through the 5th grade, but left in order to get married at a young age. Her mother taught her how to weave as a girl and she joined the cooperative to help her husband financially because he is ill and unable to earn sustainable income. Fatima hopes that the cooperative continues to improve and that her skills in weaving can continue to grow.

Aisha Anahw

Aisha was born in 1980 in Ixf N'Ighir and has lived there her whole life. Aisha has never attended school because her father did not permit her to attend. Now she is improving her literacy skills through classes taught locally. Aisha is married and is the mother of four children. Aisha learned the craft of weaving from her mother and she hopes to help the women of this area to improve their living standards through the success of the cooperative.

Naima Sahl.

Naima was born in 1995 in Ixf N'Ighir. Naima left school at a young age after sixth grade to get married, but is now divorced. Naima joined the cooperative and was able to learn the craft of weaving from the rest of the women. Naima hopes that the products of her valley can one day become famous all over the world.

Malika Sahl

Malika Sahl was born in 1990 in Ixf N'Ighir. She never had the opportunity to attend school because her father wanted her to stay home to attend to the rest of the children. She is now married and is the mother of two. As a member of the cooperative she hopes that they can succeed and improve the living standards of those in the village.

Al Waseh Fatima

Al Waseh was born in Iskatfan in 1976, is married to one of the local men from the village, and is the mother of three children. She learned the craft of weaving from her mother at a young age, specializing in rugs. As a member of the cooperative, she has been able to develop her skills in the craft and assist her family. Al Waseh has never had the chance to attend school, but hopes that the cooperative can flourish and bring better living standards to the people of the village

Naima Anahw

Naima was born in 1986 in Ait Negdel, is married, and is the mother of two children. She hopes that her children can attain full educations, as she has never had the opportunity to attend school herself. As a young girl, she learned the craft of weaving from her mother, focusing on Hanbel. She entered the cooperative to support her family and pay the funds to allow her children to attend school. Naima hopes that the cooperative with continue to grow and thrive.

Halima Noar

Halima is from Serimt and was born in 1990. She is married with a man from the local village and has attended school through the ninth grade. She left school as her family could not afford to pay the funds for her to attend. As a young girl, however, she learned the craft of weaving from her mother, and has used that skill as a member of the cooperative to earn sustainable income.

Touda Berkan

Touda was born in 1967 in Ait Mohammad and moved to Afir to marry her husband. She is the mother of seven and has never attended school because her family could not afford to pay the funds. She originally learned the craft of weaving from a neighbor. As a member of the cooperative, she is able to improve her weaving skills and earn sustainable income to assist and support her children. She hopes that good things come to this cooperative.

Naima Hazmad

Naima was born in Afourer in 1999 and has never attended school because her father did not want her to learn, and instead take care of the rest of the children of the house. She is now married to a man from the local village, and they have one son. She learned the craft of weaving when she was young from her mother. As a member of the cooperative, she has been able to develop her weaving skills. Naima hopes that good things come to the cooperative.

Khat Fatima

Fatima was born in 1966 in Ixf Nighir, is married and the mother of six children. When she was a girl, she learned the craft of weaving from her mother. As a member of the cooperative, she is able to develop her skills in weaving. Fatima hopes that good things come to the cooperative and that the village will be able to flourish because of it.

Fatima Meymoun

Fatima was born in Agrad Wonzro in 1960, and married a man from the Ixf N'ghir village. She is the mother of two, and wants them to be able to attend school and achieve full education, as she was never able to attend school herself. Fatima learned the craft of weaving from her mother, and entered the cooperative develop her weaving skills.